Testosterone, a male hormone, increases sex drive in both men and women. It also helps a man develop and maintain musculature, and is essential to sperm production. As men and women age, their testosterone production decreases, leading to a loss of certain characteristics in men and a loss of sex drive in both genders. Men with small testes may experience low testosterone throughout life. For those with symptoms of low testosterone, replacement therapy is one medical option.
Types
The effects of taking testosterone fall into a few different categories. Some effects are physical. Men, for instance, note increased musculature upon initiation of testosterone replacement, explains the Mayo Clinic's website. Other effects are physical and psychological; both men and women find their desire and ability to engage in sexual activity increases while using testosterone supplementation. Finally, there are effects that appear purely psychological. For instance, men find that testosterone supplementation makes them feel more vigorous and energetic.
Time Frame
Some of the body's hormones work very quickly. Insulin, for instance, which lowers blood sugar, works within moments of release or injection. Other hormones are slower-acting and testosterone is among them. In a 2000 article in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, a team of researchers lead by Dr. P.J. Snyder noted that many of the effects of testosterone replacement therapy occurred over a period of approximately three to six months.
Considerations
Not all effects of taking testosterone are positive. Women using replacement therapy increase their risk for certain cancers and cardiovascular disease, explains MayoClinic.com. Men taking testosterone supplementation may also have side effects, including enlarged prostate. In addition, according to a 2010 article in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, testosterone therapy can decrease a man's high density lipoprotein, or HDL, which is also called "good cholesterol." Lower HDL is associated with decreased cardiovascular health.
Misconceptions
Though the testes produce testosterone in a normal man, and though testosterone at puberty causes the testicles to grow, increased testosterone through therapy doesn't increase testicular size. In fact, explains the Cleveland Clinic, taking testosterone can actually decrease testicular size and lead to infertility. This is because testosterone replacement can send the brain a signal to suppress natural testosterone production, which leads to testicular atrophy and a lower rate of sperm production.
Expert Insight
In general, notes MayoClinic.com, the decision to take testosterone requires weighing the risks against the benefits. Further, since testosterone increases the potential for problems and diseases in both men and women, physicians carefully monitor patients on testosterone replacement to ensure that they continue to benefit from the therapy without risking health. The Cleveland Clinic emphasizes that regular appointments with a physician for follow-up testing and examinations are an important component of taking pharmaceutical testosterone.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Taking Testosterone
- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism; Effects of Testosterone Replacement in Hypogonadal Men; P.J. Snyder et al.; August 2000
- MayoClinic.com: Testosterone and Women
- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism; Adverse Effects of Testosterone Therapy in Adult Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; M. Fernandez et al.; 2010
- The Cleveland Clinic: Testosterone Effects
